New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-03-08
THE .DRAMA-MUSIC.
WALnA LAMAR.

This new pay-presented last night at the Lyceum
Theatre to and brilliant audience, and re-
ceived with general satisfaction. and, at certain
points, with tumutuous applause-appcars to be the
crude theatrical synopsis OF commonplace Frer oh
novel Its theme an experience of some Of the con-
sequences OF Illicit love- Its incidents and the posture
of its characters are with little exception conventional
in French stories. All its persons talk in a Uniform
strain which is that of its writer. Once twice, n-
deed. this monotony OF verbiage Is diver sihed by
pointed and pithy aphorsm. by such fuency as Is al
general the text ia undrama;ic because not adjusted
ito the personalities of the different speakers he play
sustrates, some extent that vigorous old poetic
tatement He'll has no fury like woman scorned |;
but also it illustrates in the sequel, truth most tor
iunate for mankind, that woman Will make any
and every sacrifice tor love. e
French actress, has been living In concubnage with
young nobleman Paris She states that this rela-
tonshp and way OF lite are entirely satisfactory TO hsr
mind, for the that she loves and is beloved
but she intimates that when the young nobleman
to love her there will be trouble. In the first
act this youth, having determined to break away from
wada." states that his other is ILL., and tenderly
bids her farewell lie is, In TACT proceeding to the
country seat of his aianoed bride. His treachery is
revealed to aWalds" by spiteful rival and there
upon she pursues her unwillingy false lover to the
scene of his int ended marriages. conroDts him; de-
his baseness and under circumstances which
will tend to rminate him as murderer, strikes q
dagger into her breast. This IL the browning
situation OF the drama Appearances are already
by that he her
murderous assallant The wound proves superficial
she partly and in the sequel her love pre-
walls over her resentment aud she vindicate5 him.
This il the play Mantesty ii Is slender; but since
1t contains at least good theatrical idea,and IL
well set and moderately well acted, IL probably Will
command measure OF success
The opening Is veal; the dialogue contains several
pages OF difusve prattle; the comedy element very
trivial and resome, is chiefly obtained by exploiting
hacneyed type OF the ocC.o h All tns
male character Is contemplate The dramatist seems
to have intended a glOrifcaton OF a passionate
woman, and the construction OF AN elective dramatic
situation To this two toll design everything else has
peen clihced but tho purpose has been accom-
pllshed The dramatic situation is remarkably
effective one With reference TO the ideal OF woman
Impressions will widely differ; enough to say here
that this heroine is the kind OF female usually admired
by faccid and weak-ninded men-tbe woman, that is
10 say, who asserts her amorous prerOgatIye with
loquacous torocity and makes tremendous bother
about her emotional condition real woman, one
who really and greatly loves Is as tar removed from
the type OF heroine presented in this piece the con-
ISOLATION OF the Pleades is from a skyrocket There
are some general reflections upon the lnexpedlency,
not to say the ndecacy of hrusting these old phases
of sentimental carnalitY upon the public attention
which since doubtless they will occnr to most read
ers may well be omitted. The theme as become
very tresone. The character OF " Waldo Lamar IA
fiery, hnpetuous, and to that extent powerful Miss
Helen Dauvray who assumed il, last night lacks the
personal presence the emotional intensity ana the
vocal force to make II entirely victorious III the SIM
ulatOn of passion this ladys voice becomes thin ana
srident and her action Ia fussy and ford rather than
tempestuons and overwhelming The intention OF her
performance however seen to DO excellent and
her fiery demeanor In the chief scene OF the play
aroused her audience to such enthusiasm that she was
four called before the curtain Mr.. Savin over
weighted the narrow undlnhed and base character OF
the treachprous lover Ills performance was admir-
able but chiefly as indication OF the better things
that are within his reach Mr.. SotherDs neat artistic
mechanism, nOnchaltnt dsneanor and unconscious
hurnor made him distinctive in minor character and
largely contributed TO the general satisfaction OF the
night With all its defects Waldo Lamar ;" orgA' .
have d run and probably will have it.